Pick boxes for cutter chains of mining machines



June 21, 1960 G, JERRW 2,941,789

PICK BOXES FOR CUTTER CHAINS OF MINIYNG MACHINES Filed Feb. 14, 1958A i 5 Sheets-Sheet l Attorneys G. JERRIT June 21, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1958 Hg. 4f

Inventor: I Jff/ A ttorn e yS. l;

G. JERRIT PICK BoxEs FON CUTTER CHAINS oF MINING MACHINES Filed Feb. 14, 195s 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A ltarneyS.

2,941,789 PICK BOXES FOR CUTTER CHAINS OF MINING MACHINES George Jerrit, Glasgow, Scotland, assignor to Mavor & Coulson Limited, Glasgow, Scotland Filed Feb. 14, 1958, Ser. N0. 715,389 Claims priority, application Great Britain Mar. 16, 1957 Claims. (Cl. 262-33) This invention relates to pick boxes of the type which are adapted to be linked together to form a cutter chain for cutting out a kerf in a coal or other mineral seam and which have sockets adapted to receive the shanks of picks serving as the cutting means.

When using such a chain for cutting a kerf in a coal face, it is customary to have adjacent picks mutually linclmed to cut the coal face in vertically spaced horizontal planes, the total number of cutting planes being determined by the depth of kerf desired. For example, a standard kerf is cut by variously inclined picks cutting 1n ten planes, whereas a wide kerf maybe cut in twelve planes. It follows that the sockets in adjacent pick boxes lare also mutually inclined. Previously, in providing pick boxes having variously inclined sockets, it has been customary to use as many different prototypes as there are different socket inclinations. Thus, for a standard kerf cutter chain one would require a set of ten prototypes according to which the requisite pick boxes would be forged; for a wide kerf cutter chain the set would comprise say twelve prototypes.

It is an object of the present invention tov simplify the manufacture of pick boxes of the type stated by reducing the number of prototypes required.

The invention is a pick box of the type stated which is of composite construction and which comprises a link component adapted to be linked with the link components of other pick boxes and a complementary separate- .ly made holder component which is rigidly secured to said link component and which has a recess to serve as a :socket for a pick.

The recess is formed with an open side which is closed by a complementary face of the link component jin the .'iinished composite pick box.

Preferably, said holder component is formed as a cyl- -inder with a transverse recess in one end and said link Acomponent is formed with a lug having a side complementary to the recessed end of said holder component.

Means for locking the shank of a pick in the socket `may comprise a plug to receive which the link component and the holder component are made with co-axial bores, :said plug having a transverse socket to register with the pick-receiving socket and having a screw-tapped hole for :a locking screw to grip the shank between opposed faces of the plug and holder component.

The invention also is a method of manufacturing a pick box of the type stated which method comprises 'forming a link component adapted to be linked with the llink components of other pick boxes, separately forming a holder component with a recess to serve as a socket .'for a pick, bringing together the two formed components 4in a pre-determined relationship to give a desired inclination of the socket, and securing the two components in Isaid relationship as a composite pick box.

An example of a pick holder according to the inven- :tion is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of two adjacent pick holders.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan, the view being partlyk in section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 of the link component of one of the pick holders, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section of a holder component as viewed in Fig. 2.

the view being Fig. 6 is an end View and Fig. 7 a perspective viewj of the holder component.

Fig. 8 is a section of a locking component of the pickv holder as viewed in Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a corresponding view partly in section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

In Fig. l, the pick boxes are shown as though in work-v ing position in a coalcutter chain; that is to say, the axes of the joints inter-connecting the link components lie in the vertical plane A A. The link components themselves as shown are lying generally in a horizontal plane B B.

Each link component 10 has a single horizontal middleV web 12 at one end and two vertically spaced horizontal side webs 13 at the other end, all of said webs having holes 14 to receive vertical pins 16 by which the link component is pivotally attached to other similar link components in the coalcutter chain. The link component alsohas a laterally extending lug 17 which bridges the side webs alongside their holes 14 and which is offset, being shown curved, either upwards or downwards from the general plane B B of the link component, depending upon whether the pick box is to be used in cutting the upper or the lower half of the kerf. In Fig. 2 the lug 17 is shown curving upwards; a corresponding downwards curving lug 17 is also shown. The side webs 12 are also bridged by a shallow arcuate seat 18 which joins them with the middle web 12. The lug is rounded to a substantially semi-circular form as Fig. l shows. A horizontal concentric bore`19-is provided in the lug.z 'The outer end of the bore is counter-sunk to provide a conical thrust face 20.

The pick holder component 11 is a cylindrical sleeve, the bore 3i) of which has the same diameteras the lug bore 19. The outer radius of the sleeve is equal to the radius of the rounded lug so that the sleeve ts snugly against the dat inner side face 31 of the lug. The sleeve is formed, in the example, with dametrically aligned recesses 32, 33 in its inner end, each recess being defined by three rectangular sides as Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show. The recesses 32, 33 serve as a socket for receiving the shank 34 of a pick 35. l

The composite pick box is made by -tittng the pick holder component 11 to the link component 10 with the sleeve resting in the arcuate seat 18 and abutting against the inner face 31 of the lug 17, the bores 19, 30 registering co-axially. Moreover, the sleeve is set with its recesses 32, 33 appropriate tothe desired socket inclination. The sleeve is welded at one end, at 36, around its periphery -to the lug and at its other end, at 37, to the shallow arcuate` seat. The Vlug and sleeve are bevelled at 36A and 36B to adapt them for welding. A fourth side of the socket formed by the recesses 3-2, 33 is defined by the inner side face 31 of the'lug in contact with` the recessed at end face 38 Aof the sleeve. That -is to say, the recesses 32, 33 are each formed with an open side and this is closed `in the'iinished, pick box by the face 31 of the link component 10.

The pick locking component is a cylindrical plug 40 adapted to be slid into the co-axial bores 30, 19 of the lug and sleeve and having a transverse socket 41 adapted to register with the socket formed by the closed vrecesses 32, 33. One face of the socket is indicated by 41A. The plug also has a screw-tapped hole 42 in one end to receive Patented June 21, 1960 a'lockingncrew 43, thevhead 44 of which'hastransverse holes 45 to receive a bar for turning the screw. The head of the screw has a conical `flange 46 adapted to "t the thrust face 20.

. Y.The arrangement is` such that therplug 40 isttedinto the co-axial bores 30, 19 with the socket *41.inregister with the recesses 32, 33, thelocking vscrew 43 being slackenedback. Thema pick .is inserted into the pick box with the shank 34 fully entered in-to the total socket 32, 41, 33. On tighteningY of the screwso that the flange 46 bears hardagainst the thrustface 20, the opposed faces 31 and 41A are drawn hard against the pick shank and lockit.

As Fig. l shows, in one pick box the lug 17 curves upwards from the link component 10 whereas the lug 17 of the other pick box curves downwards. In Fig. .l there are also shown the tips of sets of picks 35 to illustrate the various inclinations at which the picks may be xed. By way of illustration, the upwards curved lug 17 and the other similar lugs of the cutter chain vare arranged for a standard kerf cutter chain, whereas .the downwards curved lugs are arranged .for a wide kerf cutter chain.

It will be apparent that, as regards all the link components 10 ofa complete chain of pick boxes, only two prototype forgings are necessary, one having the lug 17 upturned and the other having the lug downturned, as Fig. l shows; as regards the pick holder components 11, only one prototype forging is necessary, as Figs. 5 to. 7

show. With suchthree prototype orgings, together with i appropriate locking components, such astthe parts 4G, 43,;any required number of composite pick boxes can bemade and can be linked together as a cutter chain having picks at say ten or twelve orany other practicable number of inclinations.

In the example, the link components 10 are formed with slots 50 which-radiate from the holes 14 through the side webs 13. The slots are provided to accommodate small locking pins 51 which are inserted through centralholes in the, joint pins 16 and bent over at their ends S2 to engage the slots. These locking pins are known contrivances .for holding the joint ,pins 16` in position.

Moreover, the link components are formed with customary lateral flanges 53 which serve to guide the cutter chain in its travel around the jib which carries it.

As shown only in Figs. 3 and 4, holes 54 may be formed in the link component to reduce theamountof metal.

l -I claim:

l.,A pick box comprising a link component vadapted to .be linked with other link components of other pick boxes to form a cutter chain, an oiset arcuatelug which is an integral portion of said link component, said lug presenting a iiat face, a circular holder component welded to said lug, said holder component also presenting a ilat face which registers with and abuts against the at face of the lug, a diametrical pick-receiving recess in the face of the holder component, which recess is closed by the face `of the lug and which is set at a selected angular relationship therewith, registering circular bores in the lug and holder component respectively, said bores being co-axial with the holder component, and means inserted into said bores for locking a pick in the pick-receiving socket.

2. A pick box according to claim l in which the means for locking a pick in the pick-receiving socket comprise a circular-section plug iitting into both of the registering circular bores, said plug having a transverse socket to Aanimas register' with the pick-receiving `recess inthe face of the holder component and having a screw-tapped hole extending co-axially through said plug into said transverse socket, and a locking screw to grip the pick between the at face of the lug and an opposed face of the transverse socket.

3. A pick box comprising a link component adapted to be linked with other link components of other pick boxes toforma cutter chain, an oiset lug which is an integral portion of said link component, said lug presenting a at face, a holder component secured to said lug, said holder component also presenting a atf'ace which abuts the tiat face of the lug, registering bores in the lug and holder component respectively, a transverse pick-receiving recess in the face of the holder component, which recess is closed by the face of the lug and which is set at a selected angular relationship therewith, a plug fitting into both of said registering bores, said plug having a transverse socket to register with said pick-receiving recess and having a. screw-tapped hole extending co-axially through said plug into said transverse socket, and a locking screwto grip the pick between the flat face of the' lug and an opposed face of theY transverse socket.

4. A pick box comprising-'a link component adapted to be linked with other link components of vother pick boxes to form a cutter chain, an arcuate lug which is an integral portion ofv said link component, said lug presenting a face, a circular holder component secured to said lug, said holder component also presenting a face which registers with and abuts against the face of the lug, registering bores in the lug and holder component respectively, a diametrical pick-receiving recess in the face of the holder component, which recess is closed bythe face of the lug and which is set at a selected angular relationship therewith, a plug fitting into both of said registering bores, said 1 plug having a transverse socket to register with said pickreceiving recess and having ascrew-tapped hole extending co-axially `through said plug into said transverse socket, and a locking screw to grip lthe pick between the face of the lug and an opposed face of the transverse socket. Y 5. A pick box comprising a link component adapted to be linked with other klink components of other pick boxes to form a cutter chain, a lug which is an integral portion of said link component, said lug presenting a face, a

holder component secured to said lug, said holder component also presenting a face which abuts the face of the lug, registering bores inthe lug and holder component respectively, a transverse pick-receiving recess in the face of the holder component, which recess is closed by the face of the lug and which is set at a selected angular relationship therewith, a plug litting into both of said registering bores, said plug having a transverse socket to register 'with said pick-receiving recess and having a screw-tapped hole extending co-axially through said plug intol said transverse socket, and a locking screw to grip the pick between the face of the lug and an opposed face of the transverse socket.

vReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,556,992 Holmes c c Oct. 13,1925 1,999,193 Holmes Apr. 30, 1935 2,569,584 YShepherd-Smith Oct..2, 1951 2,700,189 Nick Jan. 25, i955 FOREIGN PATENTS 422,294 Great BritainY Jan. 9, 1935 

